Land Speed Legends

THE LEGENDARY DANNY BURROW is just a good old boy from the heartland who happens to go really fast! He went from driving trucks for George Poteet to driving George's Blown Fuel Comp Coup "The Blowfish" over 300 MPH! Danny gained memebership in the Bonneville 200 MPH Club in 2010 and later on earned the 300 MPH Chapter blue hat. Danny is probably the only LAND SPEED LEGEND to get a street named after them because of their land speed accomplishments! This is an entertaining interview that proves racing is more fun with friends!

THE LEGENDARY WILLIE FREUDIGER made his first trip to Bonneville with his dad when he was 11 years old. Now, one of the few 3rd generational racers the Freudiger name is a well established and respected land speed racing name. Willie is wild, loves nitro and is the go to guy if you need someone to drive your ride. But most of all, he is a man who wants to see others succeed in land speed racing. Willie and the other Freudigers are the epitomy of what a land speed racing is about!

THE LEGENDARY DAVE DAVIDSON is probably best known for being the first person to go 300 MPH in a roadster! Going 300 MPH in a highboy is as impressive as Dave is. Dave grew up wild and free on a ranch in California. He wanted a motorcycle when he was young but his mother would not allow it so instead he  began small town drag racing (at a much too young age) and his need for speed never stopped from there! Dave upgraded from illegal drag racing to sanctioned events, he finally got to race that motorcycle and he made land speed history with his historic 300 MPH ride. Three words to describe THE LEGENDARY DAVE DAVIDSON: humble, genuine and a badass!

THE LEGENDARY FRANK SILVA'S first trip to  the Bonneville Salt Flats was with his dad when he was seventeen years old. That year they came out as spectators but it didn't last long and within a few years they were wrenching and racing the Got Salt Lakester. Frank's dad, Frank Sr., took six years to get a record in that car but it only took the junior Frank one! Unfortunely, his dad had passed away by the time he gothis record that earned him entry into the 300 MPH Chapter of Bonneville 200 MPH Club . Frank describes that year as "Fairy tale year" as he set  a record and spread his dad's ashes over the salt. Frank is one of the most enegetic, genuine and humble guys out on the salt and it makes for a great interview!

THE LEGENDARY SCOTT GUTHRIE first took his Harley motorcycle to the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1973.  He was hooked after setting a record and getting to experience the spirit of land speed racing through fellow racers. He came back the following year with great success. He had even more success when he switched to a Yamaha that he brought out  in 1984. Scott teamed up with THE LEGENDARY JIM BURKDOLL and his Pink Thunder Streamliner to get into the Bonneville 200 MPH Club.  Scott continued to have a very successful land speed racing career just racking building teams and racking up records on both the lake and asphalt side of land speed racing. He eventually teamed up with THE LEGENDARY JOHN LEVIE to form Guthrie-Levie Racing, a team that holds over 200 records! Also, he just won this year's  (2023) Bonneville 200 MPH Club "Person of the Year Award"! 

Thirty one episodes and one year later from the very first episode of Land Speed Legends my niece, Megan Volk, interviews me THE LEGENDARY ALLISON VOLK DEAN. That seems weird to write about myself but like I tell all my guests, in land speed racing, everyone is  a legend in their own mind! In this episode of Land Speed Legends I talk about what it was like growing up in land speed racing out at the Bonneville Salt Flats. I also detail some of my racing experiences and getting into the Bonneville 200 MPH Club. I was office manager of the Bonneville 200 MPH Club for over ten years and I discuss how that role influenced my decision to start this podcast. Also I talk about raising a family out there and some of our families future plans! I would like to thank Megan for helping me out and doing an amazing job!

The legendary Fred Dannenfelzer has the classic story of SoCal hot rodder turned drag racer turned land speed racer. His first trip to Bonneville with a car was in 1961 with a high boy roadster before he upgraded to a modified roadster. But his need for speed was not satisfied so he built a lakester with his eyes set on a 300 MPH record. He accomplished his goal and is a handful of people in both the Bonnevile & El Mirage 300 MPH Chapter of those 200 MPH Club's. He kept driving over 300 MPH until he was 79 years old! Now at 83 years old  he is the engine tuner for his lakester that his son-in law now drives. 

THE LEGENDARY RUSS EYRES started racing and modifying motor scooters at a very young age on his family's farm in Iowa before they moved to San Diego in 1953. His interest in land speed racing was ignited when his brother's boss, Lou Bingham, let Russ and his brother help him work on his car he raced at Bonneville.  Eventually he decided to build his own car and raced in various classes. He entered the Bonneville 200 MPH Club in 2010 and brought a few others along with him too including his son, Eric. Russ also Chairman of the SCTA Roadster Committee, Secretary of Save the Salt and longtime member of the San Diego Roadster Club.

The LEGENDARY CARLOS WHEELDON'S dad introduced him to land speed racing at a young age and as he got older they dreamed of making  plans to visit the Bonneville Salt Flats. When his dad passed away Carlos realized there is no time like the present to go. From the moment he gets to the salt his encounters with people he meets confirms that he is meant to be there. After that first visit he ends up coming back every year, sacraficing life in England, to work events three months out of the year. Eventually he catches a ride on THE LEGENDARY CHAD ZUPAN's motorcycle, moves to the states and has big plans for a 200 MPH motorcycle record!

Like most of our guests, THE LEGENDARY DENNIS SULLIVAN  was born with a love of cars and began other types of racing young. But eventually he found himself spectating at a race meet at the Bonneville Salt Flats and was hooked! After volunteering for the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association (USFRA) for several years he decided it was time to try the other side. He bought himself a street roadster and began setting land speed records not only at USRA meets but some East Coast Timing Association (ECTA) meets as well. He eventually became and still is president of the USFRA and chairman of the Utah Save The Salt Alliance. Dennis gives us some insider baseball on Save the Salt  and the issues surrounding it. 

I can't think of very many people that love land speed racing as much as THE LEGENDARY DONNY CUMMINS! His roots in racing run deep and he was destined for this sport before he was even born! Knowledgeable, enthusiastic and hardworking he has big plans for his future in land speed racing and I am confident he is going to accomplish them!

From Sprint Cars to Indy Cars to Bonneville Mike Nish was a racing machine! His racing career mirrored his life with thrilling ups and devastating downs. But like a legend he overcame! His influence on land speed racing is undeniable. He entered the Bonneville 200 MPH Club and 300 MPH Chapter in 1996 with a speed of 304.700 MPH. He had many records and runs that excelled that speed, including a top speed of 412 MPH! Today we celebrate THE LEGENDARY MIKE NISH!!!

THE LEGENDARY LLOYD PARRY is a hot rodder at heart and from a young age he was working on anything that had wheels. His involvement in land speed racing started whe he was introduced to Dave Skidmore. Him and Dave ran a '64 Dodge Dart. When the Dart engine blew up he began working the USFRA races. Starting as a course steward he is now currently the assistant race director and manages the short course for the USFRA meets.

THE LEGENDARY HUGH COTHARP first went to Bonneville in 1958. He spectated until 1971 until he began crewing for the Skidmore/Alanson's Studebaker. In 1976 he ran his own car a V4/STR  and set a record at 88MPH. He then went on to crew the Vesco's 444 car and Don Vesco's m/c streamliners. He was also one of the original founders of the USFRA and their treasurer for 38 years. He also owned a car restoration business and was one of 3 people who helped with the restoration on the Mormon Meteor 3.

THE LEGNDARY RON CHRISTENSEN was practically born with an obsession for cars and racing. Growing up in Wendover Utah gave him a unique advantage and access to witness the Golden Days of Bonneville and extensive knowledge of Bonneville and the history of the area around the salt flats. His attention eventually graduated to sports cars which eventually turned into a very successful career in all types of road racing. But the love of Bonneville eventually drove him back to his roots and him and his wife, Ellen, began racing out at Bonneville. In the mid 90’s Ron became the official announcer for Speedweek and has been doing that ever since. Hold on tight this is going to be as exhilarating as hearing "Next vehicle on the starting line is number..."

THE LEGENDARY CHAD ZUPAN first trip to the Bonneville Salt Flats was when he was seven years old. Although he didn't start land speed racing until later, he kept himself busy with kart, dirt bike and drag racing. In 2001, he started racing at Bonneville in his dad's street roadster and in 2018, Chad finally got his red hat in a G/FMR! Since then, he has been racing a 1963 Harley Sprint 250cc motorcycle. Hang on this is going to be as fun as tipping the nitro can!

THE LEGENDARY MIKE STRASBURG has been going to the Bonneville Salt Flats since 1969. He gained entry into the Bonneville 200 MPH Club in 1991 driving his family’s BGL with a record of 277 MPH. He gained entry in the 300 MPH Chapter in 2017 setting a record of 344 MPH in AA/BFL class. That was not enough for Mike so he updated his record to 361 MPH the following year. Mike is also of member of the El Mirage 200 MPH Club and did all the driving in the family’s Top Alcohol and Top Fuel dragster! This is going be as satisfying as hitting the nitroce button on a 300 MPH run.  

Here with me is the LEGENDARY LINDSAY STRASBURG. Lindsay's first year at Bonneville was in 1957 when he went out as spectator with his dad and uncles. But when it comes to racing the Strasburgs aren’t spectators. And in1962 they brought out a ‘62 Galaxy running in B/Prod. In 1967 Lindsay began racing and in 1972 he set arecord in a ’71 mustang C/Prod 176 MPH. In 1991 Lindsay got in the Bonneville200 MPH in 1991 at 227 MPH. Lindsay was a part of the USFRAS’s beginningsprepping courses. They have done all sorts of racing in between including dragand sand rails. Currently he is crew on their NHRA drag cars. 

Al’s first trip to Bonneville was in 1967 as a crew member on the Mardon, Ohly and Bentley fuel roadster. From 1968 to 1975 he drove and wrenched on the Sadd, Teague and Bentley fuel roadster. In 1970 he qualified for the 200 MPH Club in both A/FR & C/FR. But 200 MPH wasn’t fast enough for Al, and in 1976 he built a B/FBL and in 1981 he set a record with that lakester at 308 MPH. The lakester wasconverted into a streamliner and in 1982 and in 1991 he set a BNI/FIA record of 409.986 with a 425 mile average and a terminal speed of 432. At the time, it was the fastest wheel driven car ever! Al has received the Hot Rod Magazine trophy 11 times! The streamliner was retired 2002 after setting another FIA record at 405 MPH. Both the roadster and the streamliner are in the John Price Museum in Salt Lake City. Heads up this going to be as exciting as 400 MPH ALTEAGUE RUN

THE LEGENDARY ANITA STRASBURG grew up in Oklahoma and Texas. She grew watching drag racing with her dad Don Pulliman. In the early 200/s She started drag racing and ’86 Chevy truck in the super pro class. She moved on altered’s and eventually moved on to top dragsters pushing speeds of 212 MPH. She made her first trip to Bonneville in 2012 and was hooked! She made her first runs in 2019 when she got here unlimited license. In 2021 she gained entry into the 300 MPH Chapter of 200 MPH Club at 361 MPH driving the family’s B/FL. She also compete in the NHRA circuit driving a top dragaster where she has won back to back championships in the Mid West Drag Racing series. Hang on this should be as incredible as watching someone peddle a 300 MPH car for 5 miles!